United Kingdom•Europe15-21 days
340 GBP
6 months
No
Required
Not Specified
No
Not Required
For temporary work in UK horticulture or poultry processing sectors.
The UK Seasonal Worker visa permits temporary work in horticulture (fruit, vegetable, and flower picking) or poultry production. Open to any adult aged 18+, it requires a Certificate of Sponsorship from one of ~7 licensed scheme operators — no English test or formal qualifications needed.
Holders may stay up to 6 months in any 10-month period (horticulture), or within the fixed poultry window of 2 Oct to 31 Dec. The fee is £340 with no Health Surcharge. No dependants are permitted, there is no settlement pathway, and in-country category switching is not allowed. The 2026 quota is 42,900 places.
This visa is ideal for adults worldwide seeking paid seasonal farm or food-processing work in the UK without needing qualifications, English proficiency, or long-term immigration intentions.
| Initial grant | 6 months |
42,900 places in 2026 (41,000 horticulture + 1,900 poultry); distributed via licensed scheme operators
Must be aged 18 or over
Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from a licensed UK scheme operator
Work must be in horticulture (fruit, vegetable, flower picking) or poultry production
At least £1,270 in personal savings held continuously for 28 consecutive days (ending within 31 days of application), OR sponsor certifies maintenance on CoS
Role must pay at least £12.71/hour (National Living Wage) and guarantee minimum 32 paid hours per week (or £15.88/hour and £38,700/year for poultry butchers/dressers)
No English language test required
No minimum qualification or skills threshold
Job Offer
Required
Education
none or higher
Min. Savings
1,270 EUR
Valid passport or other national identity document.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.
Bank statements or financial evidence proving sufficient personal savings.
Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applicable).
Certified translations for any documents not in English or Welsh.
| Annual Allocation | 42,900 places in 2026 (41,000 horticulture + 1,900 poultry); distributed via licensed scheme operato… | uk-eta.com |
| Application Steps | Secure a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK scheme operator/employer; Apply online via th… | gov.uk |
| Fee Breakdown | Application fee: 340 GBP | gov.uk |
| Fees | £340 (from 8 April 2026; previously £319) | gov.uk |
| Forms | — | gov.uk |
| Included Nationalities | — | gov.uk |
| Job Offer Required | true | gov.uk |
| Application Portal | https://apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk | gov.uk |
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